POLITICS
RNC 2024 updates: Trump reverts to standard attacks on immigrants, Biden
Al Jazeera
By Ali Harb and Brian Osgood
July 18, 2024
The AFL-CIO, the largest federation of unions in the US, has pushed back against comments Trump made, alleging that undocumented immigrants are taking union jobs. “As baby boomers retire, America’s workforce is shrinking. Immigrants play a critical role in keeping our economy growing and strong. Unions stand ready to welcome immigrants, refugees and asylum-seekers, and help them integrate into the workforce with good union jobs,” the group said in a social media post.
Trump seeks to chip away at a historical bedrock of the Democratic coalition
Politico
By Nick Niedzwiadek and Gavin Bade
July 18, 2024
He said that “every autoworker — union and non-union” should be voting for him because “we’re going to bring back car manufacturing and we’re going to bring it back fast.” “Large factories are being built across the border in Mexico … and they’re being built by China to sell [cars into our country],” Trump said Thursday, adding in a barb for Shawn Fain, the head of the United Autoworkers who has endorsed President Joe Biden. Trump has said previously that Fain should be fired “immediately." A UAW spokesperson responded: “Donald Trump is a scab and a billionaire and that’s who he represents. We know which side we’re on. Not his.”
United Auto Workers slam Trump after he criticizes leader at RNC
USA Today
By Rachel Barber
July 19, 2024
The United Auto Workers slammed Donald Trump after he said its leader Shawn Fain should be fired for letting car makers build factories outside the country during his remarks at the Republican National Convention Thursday night. The union clapped back in a post on X, formerly Twitter ,shortly after, writing: "@realDonaldTrump is a scab and a billionaire and that's who he represents. We know which side we're on. Not his."
Billionaire-Backed JD Vance Postures as Working Class Ally in RNC Speech
Common Dreams
By Jake Johnson
July 18, 2024
Following the Republican vice presidential nominee's speech in Milwaukee, the AFL-CIO wrote on social media that "if JD Vance were pro-worker, he would have supported the PRO Act." "But he didn't—he opposed it, and introduced his own legislation to allow corporate bosses to create their own sham unions," the labor federation added. By the AFL-CIO's tally, Vance has "voted with working people" 0% of the time as a senator—lower than the Republican average of 3%.
It’s Trump’s party now. Mostly.
Vox
By Zack Beauchamp
July 19, 2024
Unlike Europe’s far-right populist parties, the GOP remains unyieldingly opposed to the welfare state and progressive taxation. It remains committed to banning abortion, an issue where its actions at the state level speak for themselves. It remains deeply hostile to unions; vice presidential nominee Sen. J.D. Vance, allegedly the avatar of the party’s pro-worker populism, has a 0 percent score from the AFL-CIO. On foreign policy, it is by no means strictly isolationist: it seeks to ramp up military spending and aggressively confront China even as it tears down both military alliances and the American-led global trade regime.
AFL-CIO: Vance is ‘a rubber stamp’ for Trump’s anti-worker agenda
People’s World
By Mark Gruenberg
July 18, 2024
“Donald Trump has a miserable record of breaking every promise he’s made to working people—from failing to pay his workers and crossing a picket line to his disastrous four years in the White House. That betrayal would continue if he is re-elected—so it’s no surprise Trump chose a vice president who will be nothing more than a rubber stamp for that anti-worker vision,” AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler began her statement. “Vance likes to play union supporter on the picket line, but his record proves that to be a sham,” the fed continued. Democratic President Joe Biden, who has enough delegates to secure renomination, plus strong and recently reaffirmed AFL-CIO support, calls Vance a Trump “clone.” Shuler noted Vance introduced legislation to legalize “yellow dog” company-run unions, and trashed UAW strikers against the Detroit automakers after collecting $5000 in campaign contributions from GM last year.
Trump calls for UAW leader to be "fired immediately"
Axios
By Avery Lotz
July 19, 2024
Former President Trump called for United Auto Workers president Shawn Fain to be "fired immediately" during his Thursday speech on the fourth and final night of the Republican National Convention. The big picture: Fain endorsed President Biden in January after a months-long limbo over the administration's progressive push toward electric vehicles. In a historic move last year, Biden joined the picket line with the UAW and Fain, whom he appointed to his export council in May.
ORGANIZING
Union rallies near Atlanta airport in push to organize Delta workers
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
By Kelly Yamanouchi
July 18, 2024
Union organizers are rallying near Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport this week, as they push to organize workers at Delta Air Lines this year. Atlanta-based Delta, long a target among unions representing flight attendants and ground workers, is facing renewed organizing campaigns, particularly in the run up to the November election. The International Association of Machinists organizers see risk in a potential change to a Republican administration in the White House come January, which they fear would be less friendly to unions than the current pro-union administration of President Joe Biden. “We know we got that little window,” said IAM organizer Charlie Hood. “It’s urgent for us to take advantage of what we have in that atmosphere now.”
NEGOTIATIONS & STRIKES
Hollywood crew members ratify new IATSE contract
Los Angeles Times
By Christi Carras
July 18, 2024
Film and TV crew members have ratified a new three-year contract with the entertainment companies following a relatively smooth bargaining period on the heels of two major Hollywood strikes. Members of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees approved the new Hollywood Basic Agreement this week by a ratification vote of 85.9% to 14.1%, with a “historically high” turnout, according to the union. The basic agreement covers some 50,000 below-the-line workers primarily based in Los Angeles, including cinematographers, costume designers, set decorators, editors and lighting technicians. Union members also ratified the Area Standards Agreement, which covers 20,000 tradespeople working in other production hubs across the United States.
Boeing Workers Pass Strike Vote to 'Save Company From Itself'
Newsweek
By Hugh Cameron
July 18, 2024
Members of Boeing's biggest union have voted to authorize a strike if their current contract negotiations with the aerospace company fail, compelling the company to take their demands for higher salaries and job security seriously. Over 30,000 Boeing workers from the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) met in Seattle on Wednesday to cast their vote on possible industrial action. "Thousands of Machinists from IAM District 751 who work at the Boeing Company put down their tools and silenced the factories to come together at T-Mobile Park to cast their vote," a statement shared by the International Association of Machinists read. "The message was clear – Boeing workers deserve better."
No end in sight for Minneapolis park worker strike
Axios
By Torey Van Oot
July 18, 2024
The Minneapolis park worker strike hits the two-week mark Thursday, with no resolution in sight. The big picture: Just under half of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board's roughly 300 full-time and seasonal unionized employees have walked off the job for the first time in the department's 141-year history amid a stalemate over their contract. The latest: Talks blew up Tuesday after two days of mediation, and the sides are trading blame. Park board officials demanded that the union put its latest offer up for a vote while labor leaders accused the board of making unreasonable asks. What they're saying: "At this point, our strike is in full force," AJ Lange, business manager for LIUNA Local 363, said at a news conference Tuesday night. "They don't seem to want us to get back to work."
IATSE Members Vote to Ratify Major Contract Deals
The Hollywood Reporter
By Katie Kilkenny
July 18, 2024
Crew members belonging to Hollywood’s major below-the-line union have voted to ratify two new three-year contracts. According to the union, 85.9 percent of voting members supported the Basic Agreement in the ratification vote tally. The Basic Agreement covers around 50,000 members who are represented by 13 West Coast Locals, including the International Cinematographers Guild (IATSE Local 600) and Motion Picture Editors Guild (IATSE Local 700). Meanwhile, 87.2 percent of members who work under the Area Standards Agreement voted “yes” on that contract, which covers around 20,000 members who belong to 23 Locals in regions outside of Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and San Francisco. Per the union, all Locals voted to ratify the agreement, and thus all delegate votes supported the deals.
IATSE: Costume Designers Achieve Scale Rate in Line With Peers as Part of New Contract Achievements
Variety
By Jazz Tangcay
July 18, 2024
After decades of fighting for pay equity, costume designers in theatrical and television (other than on one half-hour television) received a wage increase of over 40%, bringing the scale rate in line with similar creative peers. As IATSE reached a deal on a new overarching contract with Hollywood’s major studios and streamers, Variety obtained a copy of the guild’s achievements which also summarized their gains in the General Basic Agreement Negotiations.
Disneyland union employees chant ‘shut it down’ ahead of strike authorization vote
KTLA
By Iman Palm
July 18, 2024
Four unions representing 14,000 cast members at the Disneyland Resort held a protest on the Anaheim theme park’s anniversary on Wednesday ahead of a planned strike vote. Disneyland union employees rallied outside the park’s entrance to support union contract negotiations seeking fair wages, safety improvements and more. Union members set up a sound system outside the Disneyland security checkpoint and delivered speeches while guests entered and exited the theme park, according to the Orange County Register.
IATSE Ratifies New 3-Year Deal With AMPTP
Deadline
By Katie Campione
July 18, 2024
Hollywood can breathe a sigh of relief. IATSE officially has a new three-year deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, after members ratified the latest film and TV contracts by a comfortable margin. Despite some worries throughout the voting process that the artificial intelligence provisions may prove to be a dealbreaker for some members, the Basic Agreement received an 85.9% approval, while the Area Standards Agreement was approved by 87.2%.
SPORTS UNIONIZATION
W.N.B.A. Players, Bargaining Power Soaring, Seek Expert Advice on Labor Deal
The New York Times
By Tania Ganguli
July 18, 2024
W.N.B.A players have never had more leverage than they have right now. A sparkling rookie class, headlined by Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, has catapulted a league that was already growing into a new stratosphere in terms of popularity and visibility. Attendance and viewership records are being shattered, and everyone wants to know why the players’ salaries aren’t higher. The league is about to receive a windfall from a newly negotiated media rights deal which is expected to earn it at least six times what it does in the current deal, according to a person familiar with the numbers who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal has not been finalized.
WNBA players' union head concerned league is being undervalued in new media deal
The Washington Post
By Doug Feinberg
July 18, 2024
The executive director of the WNBA players’ union is concerned the league is being undervalued with the $2.2 billion over 11 years it will receive as part of the NBA’s recently approved media rights deals. “We have wondered for months how the NBA would value the WNBA in its media rights deal,” executive director of the union Terri Jackson said in a statement. “With a reportedly $75 billion deal on the table, the league is in control of its own destiny. More precisely, the NBA controls the destiny of the WNBA.”
JOINING TOGETHER
Minneapolis City Council expected to vote on support for park workers as strike enters 15th day
CBS News
By Cole Premo
July 18, 2024
As the Minneapolis park worker strike enters its 15th day with no clear end in sight, the City Council is expected to vote on a resolution of support on Thursday. Workers began picketing at around 5:30 a.m. at the Minneapolis Park and Recreation's Southside Operations Center. Park workers told WCCO they're hoping to be brought back to the bargaining table by the park board to continue negotiating. "We want not just a good wage, but we want language that respects us and that protects us," Chelsea Akin, a seasonal garden, said. "I miss my job so much I can't wait to get my hands back in the dirt and make it look pretty around here."
Protest over job cuts at Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown
WHO13
By Kelly Maricle
July 18, 2024
The sense of community among veterans is standing strong in Marshalltown. On Wednesday the AFSCME Council 61 protested against staff cuts at the Iowa Veterans Home. The Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs says the elimination of 11 positions and hour reduction of four others beginning August 15th is being done to help put staff in more direct care roles. Members spoke with our team about the potential negative impact on veterans’ care and the livelihoods of those dedicated caring employees.
IN THE STATES
Organized labor weighs in on local politics
Tallahassee Democrat
By Jordan Scott
Two things matter in politics: power and policy. The current 3-2 split on the city commission has led to bad policy for working people. We were initially told that the Tallahassee Police Department headquarters would cost an outlandish $46.5 million. Now that number has reached a staggering $135 million. Combining a police station with a community center was always a bad idea, now it is unconscionable. Blueprint projects such as $27 million and $134 million for Doak Campbell Stadium and Welaunee Boulevard, respectively, all primarily benefit developers and wealthy stakeholders. This spending for development projects has led to an 8.5% increase in property taxes which makes housing more expensive for working homeowners and renters, alike.
‘Unions remain a place of unity and hope’
The Stand
By WSLC
July 18, 2024
The 2024 Constitutional Convention convened in Wenatchee on Tuesday, July 16, bringing together union members representing the hundreds of unions that make up the WSLC, and more than half a million union workers state-wide. Under the theme of “Reclaiming Worker Power and Energizing our Movement,” delegates heard from speakers, listened to expert panels, participated in workshops, and fostered solidarity and fellowship with fellow union activists. WSLC President April Sims opened convention with remarks lifting up the WSLC’s work in the past year, and recognized the essential role unions play in 2024. “At a time when trust in our foundational institutions is wavering, when political violence and charged rhetoric is rising, unions remain a place of unity, and of hope,” said Sims. Convention continues Thursday morning with remarks from AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler and SEIU President April Verrett, followed by convention business including the democratic consideration of resolutions.